Moore gets off to impressive start

Staff photos by Tom Kelly IV
Coach Moore (right) accompanied by his daughter Chyna, shakes hands with school Superintendent Richard Como and is welcomed to the school by Athletic Director James Donato (left).
Coatesville Area Senior High School hired a new head boys basketball coach, and they held a press conference to announce that Chuck Moore, a former coach at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School is their new coach.

CALN -- “I know today’s a sad day for Plymouth Whitemarsh, but it’s a great day for Coatesville basketball.”

With those words, athletic director Jim Donato ushered in a new era for Coatesville boys basketball Wednesday by introducing Chuck Moore as the new coach, replacing Rick Nelms. In a press conference at the school’s library that was attended by faculty, staff and fans, including football coach Matt Ortega, Moore was introduced to a fan base that is yearning for another state title.

If basketball pedigree is a predictive indicator, then Moore might be able to fulfill the expectations of the community.

He was a star at PW; in fact, he became the school’s all-time leading scorer and was the main cog for a team that won the PIAA Class AAAA title in 1997. Moore went to Seton Hall before transferring to Vanderbilt, where he starred as a guard for the Commodores. He then spent eight years as an assistant with the Colonials, also coaching the junior varisty.

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Moore beat out a group of candidates that included former Coatesville star John Allen, and Donato talked about the impressive qualities that led the search committee to hone in on Moore.

“He’s polished, said Donato. “Everything he does, he says he put thought into it. The character, the class, you saw it for yourself. You spend just five minutes with the guy, he lights up a room.

So, those things there, he just separated himself from the rest of the pack.”

Moore talked glowingly about playing Coatesville in the state playoffs, when he and former Sixer John Salmons butted heads with Rip Hamilton.

“Rip Hamilton, I played against him coming up, he was a great player,” said Moore. “It was always a battle. With that in mind, I already knew the tradition that was already set in place -- the will and determination to play and win at Coatesville. I saw it in their eyes when they played against me.”

The 34-year-old, who was accompined by his daughter, Chyna, gave credit to long-time PW coach Jim Donofrio for being a strong influence on his coaching style.

“Hard work and having fun each and every day is my philosophy,” Moore said. “It seems like we got away from the reason why we play this game. It’s become more business-like and I don’t want to take from them. I want these kids to have fun playing this game. I find it ironic that when I was playing all I wanted was to shoot the ball, but at this level, a lot of people can score the ball, but it’s important that you can keep them from scoring.”

The cupboard will not exactly be full for Moore when he starts; he will be deprived of Howard Sellars, Emmett Hunt and Leroy Hoggard due to graduation. But no matter how bare the cupboad seems to be, the shelves usually get filled up with grade-A product.

The emphasis the school, and community, places on the basketball team shows itself in the mere fact that a press conference was held. The new girls soccer coach was spared the grilling from the press. Every decision is scrutinized and instant feedback is provided, whether wanted or not. But that could provide Moore with a great opprotunity. Win here, and show the class and character that was on display Wednesday, and the critics will be held at bay and the Chester County world, and maybe even District 1, will be your oyster.

“No question,” Moore said when asked if he could be a disciplinarian. “I can relate to the kids and discipline is always the key. You have to be sure everybody is on the right page on the court or off the court. That’s my ultimate goal: to turn these boys into men.”